New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-10
CHATOE BUSINESS MEN.
PASSING COMMENT AND ANECDOTE.


heard story the other day of the manner In
which the telephone invention was Originally oncreo
around Ncw-York without finding any one wiling 10
take 1t furnish capital to promote IT, was 'oid
that certain gentlemen secured option on inc teie
phone at time, the terms OF which wouid nave
given them its In the entire United states ior
royalty Of not above 100000 year Their part oil
the agreement was that they should establish OK
changes in the leading cities and two dollars roy
atty year each transmittor used lut IN no
event were they TO pay $50, 600 a year. They
unable TO raise tho necessary money 10 start
even one exchange before their option expired. Mayor
Hewitt had opportunity, ii Is said to get the Dig
gcst end of tho telephone for $4,000 ana con
trolling interest about tho same timo was offered
to tho Western Union Telegraph Company for SILL
600 Ex-Governor A. b. Cornell was acting presi-
dent of the Western Union Company at that umc'
Orton being abroad. When the use OF the telephone
was explained to Governor Cornell he said: The
machine Il all right. But what do men want to talk
about 2" Then he went on TO argue that men would
no. be inclined 20 commit their secrets over WIRE
where other people them. Then he indicated
that they would prefer TO use written messages and
enclose them In envelope where nobody could see
them and have them sent without danger OF others
knowing anything about them. Senator Don Cam
eron has denied the report that he offered fourth
interest in the telephone originally for $1,000, but u
is understood ncveril tess, that he was oneed DIG
interest for small sum Of money and refused IT, Inc
figures may not DO right but the general fact has at
least passed into current public belief
In talking the other night with prominent rail-
road lawyer whose professional relations with the
Pacific Railroad managers have placed him In position
to know what ho talking about, he said: Did
you know that Jay Cooke wanted to buy the Canadian
Pacific Railroad at timer No, you did not know
! tbat7 Well IL was Just before his failure He and
his friends held the theory that II the stocks OF the
Canadian Pacific Railway were held In the Unitod
States It would bring about annexation OF Canada 10
this country. Englishmcn got the Same IDEA about
the same time and promptly raised tho money with
which the railroad completed In order to prevent
Canada falling into the hands Of the United states
That is not exactly what getting at by calling
your attention TO this matter IL you VIII notice
Canadian Pacific Railroad is Iangulshing for want of
Business They cannot get business except by closer
connection with the railroads OF this country We
could furnish the Canadian Pacific with plenty OF
business II Canada was full sister in tho Union
portion Of the people OF Canada are attempting 10
secure this business by reciprocity but the truo In
forests Of both countries demand annexation The
getting business nom this country shows hat Jay
Cookies views long headed and farsghted"
Now and again hear warning voice from trades
who begin the dangers that this country Is
encountcring through free trade agitation. In the
store OF a large umbrella firm broadway tho other
day the senior member said TO me: g fear that the
introduction of free trade into this country would so
lower wages that the people would become an easy
prey of anarchists. Pauper wages and the general
misery of the people are the causes OF the discomfort
which prevails in the Old World, and these Influences
give greater opportunity there TO anarchist. TO DC
velop their plotnes In this country, on NC con
trary, the good wages paid 10 inc worhlns ,cla,scS
/ have had conservative effect, and we have been
spared the desperate Vaccinations Of the dstmbers OF
society. ] foresee social disord rs OF serloue char
acter perhaps even threatening our form OF govern
ment II the paupcr Of free trade countries arc
introduced here Protection is the very buiwark OF
! Liberty"
There has long been belief. founded upon fairly
good evidence, that large sums of money arc expended
annually by English interests TO secure free trade
with the United States. An incident came to my
knowledge a few days ago which shows the methods
that arc adopted to influence public opinion on this
side of the water The fact that II occurred as far
| Oack 1873 only shows that the effort and tho OK
| pendturc of money have been going on for "a long
period A prominent American who travelling
through Great Britain was Invited BIZ the managers
Of tho Bank Of Glasgow, which failed year or two
later, TO meet them for discussion of their shipping
Interests They paid him a fee To give them an Opn-
ion with reference to certain international relations.
They had mortgages covering some sixty ships ana
were exceedingly anxious to have laws passed by tho
United States by which these ships might DO sailed
und'r the American flag While they were told all
In tho United States against such a law, they wore
still make the effort and offered the gem
tleman retainer Of ten thousand pounds sterling TO
take up tho question In America and ag.tate It, Tho
| that he was an Amrlcan and believed in the American
policy; This ls subject that has since been taken
ton, Thomas g. shearman of Brooklyn, and Everett r.
Wheeler
One Of the most notable professional branches in
NewYork IS that of commissioners whose business IS
almost entirely confined to the cerBcation papers
and documents requiring certificate Of the officers
of other States. The transfer Of stock Of company
organized under the laws Of another State may be
effected here by going before commissioner Of that
| State and making proper affidavit recently
/ in an Office where this business was transacted ]
| found that they represented as noaries and com
missoncrs forty six States and Territories In order
to transact their business readily they have rubber
md dleg that ftets I'm.
print blank form upon any document, OIL the blanks
and stamp It with the proper seal before the
would heTe rye ca,ac 70 r his ovs work rV a M ~
affidavit and II makes up handsome income I'm the
course Of a year. One firm has record Of l73
certlhcatiohs In single day.
| hear that OK Assistant Secretary Charles f. Coon
while In London recently, succeeded In placing loan
Of $4,000 for Southern railroad company, and
that before his return TO this country he offered
a managing position In a London bank.
1t is the adagc OF the average Wall Street specu-
ator that The man who plays the public for a fool
will catch a sucker every time" This phrase was
! repeated in conversation with Colonel W.p. Canaday,
OF North Carolina. yesterlay, when he said " 1t re-
minds me Of an affair when was Mayor of Whining
| ton. The country fair being held. II came TO
| my knowledge that extraordinary gang OF pick
pockets and thieves had come In there to work |
put the police machinery in motion and during tho
night locked up forty fifty Of tho rascals
There a fellow In Wilmington named John Brock
who kept saloon, a faro bank and general gambling
rested were customers OF his, and blew I'm at his
bank nightly the spois Of the day. met him ON the
street the morning after the arrests were made lie
marched boldly up to me and started conversation
In this style Say, Mr.. Mayor, what the devil YOU
the ae 's O Of dS srs
Know how to take care of their money, and fellows
IN oh ie fbe